HHS Secretary Names Three Members to HIT Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Eric D. Hargan named three members to the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC), established by the 21st Century Cures Act.

The Cures Act established the HIT Advisory Committee and gave the Comptroller General responsibility for appointing at least 14 of the members. In addition to the Comptroller General’s appointments, the Act specifies that 11 members are appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Majority and Minority leaders of the Senate, and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to name his two committee members.

The new HITAC replaces the Health IT Policy and Standards committees of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and will provide guidance on policies, standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria relating to the implementation of a health information technology infrastructure that advances the electronic access, exchange, and use of health information.

Acting Secretary Hargan has appointed the following individuals to the HITAC:

Raj Ratwani, acting center director and scientific director of the National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare within MedStar Health, and assistant professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine

Get the latest information on Health IT and attend other valuable sessions at this two-day Summit providing healthcare leaders with educational content, insightful debate and dialogue on the future of healthcare and technology.

News

A new survey report from Black Book Research on global healthcare IT adoption and records systems connectivity finds nations in various phases of regional electronic health record (EHR) adoption. The survey results also reveal rapidly advancing opportunities for U.S.-based and local technology vendors.

Momentum continues to grow for value-based care as nearly three-quarters of healthcare executives report their organizations have achieved positive financial results from value-based payment programs, to date, according to a new study from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, the only pediatric hospital in the United Arab Emirates, has entered into an agreement with Washington, D.C.-based Children's National Health System to form a health IT strategic partnership.